Mossy Cave, Bryce Canyon

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Bryce Canyon National Park

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Difficulty: Easy
Length: 0.6 miles / 1.0 km
Duration: 1 hour or less

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Overview: An easy stroll in Bryce next to a creek that brings you past hoodoos, to a waterfall, and then to a mossy cave where icicles hang in the shady places. If you feel adventurous, climb to the hole in the wall above the falls.

Mossy Cave is the trail you want to go to if you have a very short time and want to do a little hike. Or, if you have guests or kids that do not like to break a sweat on a hike, this is a perfect little stroll where you can get the whole below canyon experience without the hike down into the canyon.

Tips: This is a short and easy hike. You can bring nothing at all and be fine. Bring some water and a snack though. And apply some sunscreen as you are high in altitude and the sun's rays are strong.

Points of Interest

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Trailhead

There is room for cars to park here, there's a bathroom, and a faucet to fill up your water bottle. Take off to the left of the river behind the bathroom. You will be following the river and sometimes crossing it. There are bridges for most of the river crossings.

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Some Snow on the trail

There is some snow on the trail in springtime but it is relatively flat and not a problem. You may come across some mud, but that's it.

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View of Windows

Look up to your right to see some windows in the sandstone formations above. Later, if you feel up to it, you can climb up to these and look through the windows at where you are now.

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View of footbridge

As you come down off the low ridge, you see the first of a couple bridges that will take you across the creek.

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Footbridge

Walk across the footbridge and take a look down and up the creek.

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Hoodoos Above Mossy Cave

Here you get a great view of the hoodoos above and across from Mossy Cave.

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View of Waterfall

As you step across the second bridge, look to your right and you will see the waterfall. A few steps off the bridge and you will see the trail junction to either go left up to Mossy Cave or go right to the waterfall.

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Waterfall

Here's the waterfall. You can go out on that rock and look straight down.

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Go up to the windows!

If you feel up to it, climb the short trail up to the windows and look down at your friend or through the window down on the trail you came up on. The slope is steep and can be slippery on the loose dirt, but it's worth it from the top. Bring something to eat and drink as you can rest and take in the scenery up there.

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At the Windows!

Beautiful views in all directions as you can look through the window down on the trail you came up on and down toward the waterfall and beyond.

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The Way Down

This should give you a good perspective on the steepness of the trail. This is my wife Cheryl on her way down. She made it just fine and I slipped and fell on my butt once. No problem.

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Snowy Trail up to Mossy Cave

The trail is shaded here and was a bit snowy. But nothing we couldn't handle.

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Mossy Cave

Here's Mossy Cave. You can see moss growing under the overhang, which gives it its name. And in the early spring you can still see ice stalactites which form from the dripping water freezing as it drips.